The Science Behind Success

The Science Behind Success

aCGH: Breakthrough Science for Healthy Babies

PRC sets the standard in providing the latest state of the art science to ensure couples conceive a healthy baby. Couples with repeat miscarriages, previously failed fertility treatments, or a family history of chromosomal abnormalities can benefit from our advanced genetic testing.

PRC is the first IVF center in the U.S. to offer in-house Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) testing of embryos as a component of our own integrated pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) lab. aCGH is the latest testing technique used to identify chromosomal abnormalities. aCGH testing permits testing of all chromosomes of an embryo, obtained from a single cell biopsy. Down syndrome, for example, is a result of an extra chromosome 21 and Turner’s syndrome is a result of a missing or incomplete X-chromosome.

The comprehensive chromosomal screening with aCGH represents a breakthrough in the ability of embryologists to select healthier embryos when performed in conjunction with IVF—increasing the chances of delivering a healthy baby.

aCGH technology, coupled with our other non-invasive embryo assessments, have positioned PRC as a world leader in IVF laboratory science.

The PRC Advantage: aCGH Results Overnight

Currently, patients who utilize aCGH testing must delay embryo transfer while the testing of the cells are performed in a lab outside of their local fertility center.

Some testing locations can be found out of the country and may require the freezing of embryos and shipment of biopsied cells. The delay equates to an added emotional toll for couples and has additional financial implications.

How to select the best embryo for transfer in IVF can also be assisted by close observation of the embryos while still in culture. PRC is among a select few IVF centers in the U.S. with the additional capacity to assess embryo viability via EmbryoScope—a new non-invasive approach to cellular assessment. Our PRC EmbyroScope can identify which embryos are developing correctly at an earlier stage based on key morphology observations. This technique permits continuous time-lapse images of embryos to be studied to help determine the developmental competency of each.